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Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup
Harley Benton SC-550 II
VS
Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
72
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
77
Sound
71
Build
63
Value
80
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
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Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup vs Harley Benton SC-550 II

Reasons to Get
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup over Harley Benton SC-550 II

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
50s Rounded Medium C vs Harley Benton '60s
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Nylon vs Graphite
Resistant nut with good tuning stability
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton SC-550 II over Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Neck Profile
Harley Benton '60s vs 50s Rounded Medium C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Value Score
80 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup vs Harley Benton SC-550 II

Bridge Pickup
Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) vs Tesla OPUS-1 AlNiCo-5
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) vs Tesla OPUS-1 AlNiCo-5
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Nylon vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup vs Harley Benton SC-550 II

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup Prices

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Harley Benton SC-550 II Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Harley Benton SC-550 II's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Harley Benton SC-550 II has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Harley Benton SC-550 II is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton SC-550 II is the better choice.

The Harley Benton SC-550 II meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton SC-550 II
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup Overview

  • From Gibson Custom's 2022 Historic Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • No-Wire ABR-1 bridge
  • 50s Rounded Medium C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Kluson Waffleback w/ Pearloid Tips tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton SC-550 II Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2021 Deluxe series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Tesla OPUS-1 AlNiCo-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Tesla OPUS-1 AlNiCo-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • DLX Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Harley Benton '60s Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • DLX Kluson style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton SC-550 II

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Winner: Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup and Harley Benton SC-550 II pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup and Harley Benton SC-550 II's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Harley Benton SC-550 II
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 71

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup compares to the Harley Benton SC-550 II.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup is built in United States while the Harley Benton SC-550 II is made in Indonesia.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup has a Nylon nut. It used to be one of the highest quality materials for nuts (and still is), but it's rare to find nowadays because it's hard to work with. It's a very resistant material with very low friction, so it will keep the guitar in tune and will last for a long time

On the other hand, the Harley Benton SC-550 II comes with a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

Winner: Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Harley Benton SC-550 II is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Harley Benton SC-550 II.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup's are Kluson Waffleback w/ Pearloid Tips while the Harley Benton SC-550 II's are DLX Kluson style

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Nylon Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton SC-550 II
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup
Quality of materials 66
Features 50
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 72
Harley Benton SC-550 II
Quality of materials 75
Features 50
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 63

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup Nut Width
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup Nut Width
Harley Benton SC-550 II Nut Width
Harley Benton SC-550 II Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup and Harley Benton SC-550 II's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup Neck Profile
Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup's neck profile
Harley Benton SC-550 II Neck Profile
Harley Benton SC-550 II's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The Harley Benton SC-550 II, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup and the Harley Benton SC-550 II have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup favors large hands more than the Harley Benton SC-550 II. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton SC-550 II:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup and Harley Benton SC-550 II Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Harley Benton SC-550 II
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup vs Harley Benton SC-550 II
General Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue Ebony 2-Pickup Harley Benton SC-550 II
Brand: Gibson Custom Harley Benton
Year: 2022 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Historic Collection Deluxe
Colors: Black Orange, Red, Gray, Orange Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Solid Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: No-Wire ABR-1 DLX Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Kluson Waffleback w/ Pearloid Tips DLX Kluson style
Fretboard: Ebony Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: 1950s Pattern Mother of Pearl Pearloid Trapezoids
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: 50s Rounded Medium C Harley Benton '60s
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Nylon Graphite
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker / Passive) Tesla OPUS-1 AlNiCo-5 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker / Passive) Tesla OPUS-1 AlNiCo-5 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2